Load-releaser.



C. E. L. LIPIVIAN.

LOAD RELEASER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-20.19l7.

Patented Apr. 30,1918.

G t E. 1L. LIPll/IAN, 0F BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 LIPMAN AIR APPLIANCE 0F BELOIT, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 36, 1216..

Application filed January 20, 1917. Serial No.,1t3,501.

B eloit, county of Rock, and State of Wisconsm,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Load-Releasers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to systerfis for generating and storing fluid under pressure, particularly air compressor systems which are employed for supplying air under pressure for the purpose of inflating automobile tires, or for other desired pur poses, and relates more specifically to a load releaser designed for use in connection with a system of this character for the purpose of permitting the compressor to start against a minimum load, substantially equal 'to atmospheric pressure, and speed up to the requisite momentum before it is compelled to work against the pressure in the storage reservoir. 7 Another object of my invention is to providea load releaser which will be sensitive, effective, and efficient in operation, and which will be simple and compact in construction, so that it may be manufactured at a low cost, and may be operated with little liability of its getting out of order. I

Other ob'ects and. advantages of my invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of an air compressor system embodying my invention;

Flg. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the load releaser; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

By referring to the drawings, it will be observed that the air compressor 5, which. may be of any well-known or preferred confrom a motor 6 through a gear train 7. 8 indicates a storage reser- V011 of any desired capacity, into which air under pressure is forced by a compressor through the pressure line 9. The air is withdrawn from the reservoir through a pipe 11' which is preferably equipped with. the manually controlled valve 12. The motor driving circuit comprises the generator 13-, wired to the motor in the usual manner,

provided wayas a and included in the circuit is an automatic pressure controlled switch 14: of any preferred type, which is connected with the storage reservoir 8 so that when the pressure in the reservoir drops to a predetermined minimum, the switch will close, thereby automatically starting the compressor, and

when the pressure 1n the reservoir has been raised to a predetermined maximum, the switch will automatically open to stop the compressor. I

The pressure pipe 9, instead of being connected directly with the reservoir, as is sometimes done, discharges into the load releaser indicated generally by reference character 15, the construction of whichwill now be described. Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observed that the releaser is of cylindrical shape, providing a chamber having a permanent bottom 16, and a removable top 17 throughwhich access is obtained to the interior of the chamber. The pressure pi e 9 from the compressor is connected wit the chamber near the lower end thereof through a port 18, and the pressure is delivered from the releaser to the reservoir 8 through the other branch of the pipe 9, which is connected with the chamber through a port 19 in the removable top 17. It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the lower portion of the chamber is somewhat smaller in diameter than the upperportion, thereb providing an annular shoulder 21 adapte to support a spider 22 which is inserted from the upper end of the chamber, andis held in position by a plurality of set screws 23. The spider is provided with a downwardly projectin portion 24 with a web 25, whic serves in a guide for the valve stem 26, and the surroundmg coiled expansion spring 27 which bears at its upper end against the spider 22, and at its lower end against the shoulder 28 formed on the stem. The lower end of the valve is adapted to close a relief port 29 formed in a plug or nipple 31, which is also'provided with an'upstanding guide 32 whic centers the valve relatively to the port.

The upper end of the stem 26 which pro-' ends of the levers 33 are pivotally attached. It will be observed that the spider 22 is shaped to provide an annular shoulder or bead 36 uponwhich the levers 33 fulcrum, so.jthat when the valve is depressed by the spring 27 to close the relief port 29, the levers 33 fulcrum upon the bead 36, thereby elevating their outer ends and the bar 34 attached thereto.

In the enlarged portion of the chamber above the spider there is disposed a reciprocatory plunger 37 which snugl' fits the surrounding chamber walls, an is provided with a preferably centrally disposed passage 38 constructed at its lower end as indicated at 39. This plunger may be made of metal or any material of suitable weight, and when it is in its lowered position, as shown in Fig. 2, it rests upon the bar 34, thereby depressing the bar and consequently lifting the inner ends of the levers 33 so as to raise the relief valve from, its seat and open the port 29. When the plunger is lifted 50 that its weight is removed from the bar 34, the relief valve is again closed by the action of the spring 27.

In the operation of my invention, assuming that the motor is idle, the parts are in .the position as shown in Fig. 2, with the relief valve open, thereby exposing the interior ofthe chamber to atmospheric pressure only. A check-valve 41 of usual. construction is interposed in the pressure line between the load releaser and the storage reservoir, so that .the pressure from the reservoir cannot back up into the releaser. Assuming now that the pressure in the reservoir has been reduced to the predetermined minimum, so that the motor circuit is closed by the pressure controlled switch 14, the motor starts to operate the compressor 5. When the compressor begins to operate, it is working only against.

atmospheric pressure, but since the air is supplied by the compressor to the releaser faster than it can escape through the relief port 29, the pressure gradually accumulates under the plunger 37, thereby lifting the} plunger off from the bar 34. The relief valve'is thereupon immediately closed by the spring 27. As the pressure accumu- A lates, the plunger 37 is gradually raised in the chamber until, when the motor and compressor have reached the normal working speed, the plunger will be elevated to the top of the chamber. .Here it will remain so long as the compressor continues to work,

the air being delivered through the passages 39 and 38 and out-of the chamber through the port 19 into the pressure line leading to the storage reservoir. When the compressor is stopped after the requisite pressure has been attained in the reservoir,

the plunger 37 will gradually move downwardly in the chamber as the air beneath it 'ing the relief valve from ing upon the bead 36. The chamber is now open to the atmosphere, so that the compressor may start the next time against atmospheric pressure only.

It is believed that my invention and its mode of operation will be clearly understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should be manifest that I have provided a simple, eflicient, and thoroughly practical load releaser, and it should also be manifest that the invention is not limited to the structural details illustrated and described, but is capable of considerable modification and variation within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: a

1. A load releaser comprising a chamber provided with inlet, outlet, and relief ports a relief valve adapted to close said relief port, a plunger operable in said chamber and having a restricted passage therethrough connecting the inlet and outlet ports, mechanism unconnected with butoperated by said plunger for opening said valve when said plunger is in lowered position, and means independent of the plunger for closing said valve. e

2. A load releaser comprising a chamber provided with inlet, outlet, and relief ports a spring closed valve for closing said relief port, a plunger freely reciprocable in said chamber and provided with a restricted passage between said inlet and outlet ports, and mechanism operable by said plunger for opening said valve against the action of said spring.

3. A load releaser comprising a chamber having inlet, outlet, and relief ports, a valve for closing said relief port, means for yieldingly urging said valve against its seat, a plunger in said chamber provided with a passage therethrough forming the sole communication between "said inlet and outlet ports, and mechanism operated by 'the weight of said plunger for opening said valve. Y

4. A load releaser comprisiiig a chamber provided with inlet and outlet ports, a plunger reciprocal between said ports, an air passage extending from one side to the other of said plunger, a relief port beneath close said valve, a plunger reciprocal above said spider and having a passage therethrough, and means including a pivotally mounted lever adapted to be operated by said plunger for opening said valve.

6. A load releaser comprising a chamber, a spider mounted therein, a relief valve including a stem guided in said spider, a plunger disposed above said spider and provided with a restricted air passage, said plunger being adapted to be elevated by the air pressure beneath the same, and means operable by the Weight of said plunger when in lowered position to open said valve.

'7. A load releaser comprising a vertically disposed chamber, a spider removably mounted therein, a relief valve guided in said spider, valve opening means connected to the upper end 0113 said valve stem, a spring for normally closing said valve, and a plunger reciprocably disposed in said chamber above said spider and unconnected to said means, said plunger being adapted when in lowered position to open said valve through the intermediary of said means against the force of said spring.

8. A load releaser comprising a chamber having an outlet port in its upper portion, a relief port in its lower portion and an inlet port, a floating plunger freely reciprocable in said chamber intermediate said inlet and outlet ports, a restricted passage providing a permanent communication between sald inlet and outlet ports, the position of said plunger in the chamber being dependent upon the volume of air delivered to the chamber through said inlet port, and means controlled by the position of said plunger for opening the rellef port.

CL E. L. LIPMAN. 

